Dave Miller, at front, East Region president at First Tennessee, and Pam Fansler, chairman of the East Tennessee Region at First Tennessee, stand with First Tennessee employees in Knoxville on May 25, 2017. First Tennessee was rated the top workplace among large companies in the Top Workplaces 2017 survey.(Photo: Caitie McMekin / News Sentinel)Buy Photo

When Jaime Bagwell applied at First Tennessee 16 years ago, she just needed a job.

She started in the call center, but made use of the bank’s tuition reimbursement to go back to school. Bagwell earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, with help and encouragement from her coworkers and managers.

"I feel like my whole department graduated with me," she said.

Appreciating what she’d found at First Tennessee, Bagwell stayed with the company and moved up through its departments. Now she’s a treasury management sales officer.

"Most of the time it doesn’t feel like work,” she said.

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Jamie Bagwell, treasury management sales officer at First Tennessee in Knoxville on Thursday, May 25, 2017. First Tennessee is the top workplace amongst "large companies" in the Top Workplaces 2017 survey.(Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL)

That environment is part of what made First Tennessee’s employees to rate the bank so highly in Workplace Dynamics’ survey of Knoxville-area companies. First Tennessee is the Top Workplaces winner among participating large firms, based on employee responses.

First Tennessee, the largest bank based in the state, was founded in 1864. It has more than 170 bank locations and associated financial advisors, according to the company website. Twenty-two of those locations are in the Knoxville area, as are 754 of the bank’s 4,300 employees.

Among those employees, group bonding is important, Bagwell said, since she spends as much or more time with them as she does with family, she said. The bank’s top local executives know her and other staff by name, which makes employees feel wanted.

But First Tennessee makes family time a priority too, with much-appreciated flex time offered for illness or other issues, Bagwell said. The company wants its people to balance their lives, without having to choose between work and home life, she said.

Now Bagwell has found time to give back – she has begun volunteering with local organizations. Previously she was interested, but didn’t know how to sign up. First Tennessee encourages community involvement, so the bank helped make those connections too, she said.

First Tennessee strongly backs volunteerism, East Region President Dave Miller said. It’s good to help employees help the community, and follow causes they’re passionate about, he said; Miller himself serves on several community boards.

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Dave Miller, east region president at First Tennessee in Knoxville Thursday, May 25, 2017. First Tennessee is the top workplace amongst "large companies" in the Top Workplaces 2017 survey.(Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL)

The bank’s benefit package is very strong, including not only tuition reimbursement but family benefits such as adoption help, expanded parental leave and educational assistance for children, Miller said. But the workplace culture is even more important, emphasizing work-life balance, he said.

"This is just a really special place to work,” Miller said. "The people are incredible and the culture’s incredible. That's what it comes down to.”

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Scenes from the 2017 Knoxville Top Workplaces Awards.

Miller has been with First Tennessee for 23 years, but has only been East Region president since March 1.

"It's the second place I've ever worked, and it'll probably be the last place I'll ever work,” he said. “It's that great an environment."

Employee comments anonymously to Workplace Dynamics praise First Tennessee’s work environment, say employees feel valued and cared for, and get to help customers.

“I am given every opportunity to improve my skills and give the best possible performance in my role. There are many opportunities for advancement,” one employee wrote.

First Tennessee already boasted a long list of awards from various organizations, naming it the best place to work, best place for female executives, best bank, having the best executives, offering the best training, and lauding its efforts on diversity, health and human rights.

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Knoxville News Sentinel President Frank Rosamond speaks during the 2017 Top Workplaces presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

Bob Helig, of Workplace Dynamics, speaks on how the survey was conducted during the 2017 Top Workplaces presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

Bob Helig, of Workplace Dynamics, speaks on how the survey was conducted during the 2017 Top Workplaces presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

Attendees mingle during the 2017 Top Workplaces presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

A winner walks off the stage during the 2017 Top Workplaces presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

Jack McElroy, Executive Editor of the Knoxville News Sentinel, presents the awards during the 2017 Top Workplaces presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

People attend the 2017 Top Workplaces presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

Nancy Ortiz, of Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center, accepts an award during the 2017 Top Workplaces presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

A Cannon & Cannon Inc. representative accepts an award during the 2017 Top Workplaces presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

Awards are presented during the 2017 Top Workplaces presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

Knoxville News Sentinel President Frank Rosamond during the 2017 Top Workplaces presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

A winner accepts an award during the 2017 Top Workplaces presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

An attendee takes a photo during the 2017 Top Workplaces presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville, Tennessee on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel

Representatives from SmartBank hold their awards during the 2017 Top Workplaces event presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel at The Foundry on the Fair Site in Knoxville on June 20, 2017.
Calvin Mattheis / Knoxville News Sentinel

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Some previous awards came from the News Sentinel and other USA TODAY Network – Tennessee papers.

“I work for a great company that is highly reputable with a great brand,” another employee commented anonymously. “Expectations are set and my company allows me to do my job. Feel like I am in a partnership.”

Executive Assistant Michele Parrott said First Tennessee is a Top Workplace because it’s inclusive, offers professional development, always encourages employees to try something new, and provides positive feedback from coworkers and leaders.

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Michele Parrott, executive assistant at First Tennessee in Knoxville Thursday, May 25, 2017. First Tennessee is the top workplace amongst "large companies" in the Top Workplaces 2017 survey.(Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL)

Those factors, which translated to multiple career options, have kept Parrott with the bank for 20 years. She started as a teller, and worked her way through school; using one of First Tennessee’s career development paths, Parrott moved up to financial service representative, and now to the executive office.

In all those positions Parrott found managers who supported her, and were always willing to talk about workplace issues.

It’s unusual for a banker to stay with the same company for an entire career, Michelle Hardin said; but she is sure she made the right choice.

“If I were looking back at my younger self, I'd say ‘You go do what you just did,’" said Hardin, senior vice president and manager, medical private banking.

"I think the reason I've been here 29 years, and the reason I am where I am in the company, is because my managers and their managers have been really excellent to me,” she said.

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Michelle Hardin, senior vice president and manager of First Tennessee, medical private banking at First Tennessee in Knoxville Thursday May 25, 2017. First Tennessee is the top workplace amongst "large companies" in the Top Workplaces 2017 survey.(Photo: CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL)

They mentored her in ways she cannot repay, Hardin said.

"The senior management of this company know that at the end of the day, their assets walk out the door. They take really good care of us,” she said.

While hours are fixed for employees who deal directly with customers, they’re more flexible for other departments, Hardin said. Workers there can schedule their hours early or late, whichever way they work best, to promote a happy work environment, she said.

Another aspect of flexibility at First Tennessee is allowing time to deal with family issues, Hardin said. There are many of those in her department, and Hardin herself cares for her elderly parents, she said.

"There isn't one time that any of us felt like leaving was something we couldn't do. We were encouraged: family first,” Hardin said.

The Workplace Dynamics survey results may suggest ways First Tennessee can become better, but the company already surveys employees every year on leadership and potential improvements, Miller said.

Keeping people informed of goals and constantly asking how to improve processes is a great way to run a business, he said.

First Tennessee has always prided itself on putting employees first, knowing that they in turn will take care of clients; and if clients do well, the community as a whole will do well, Miller said.

"It's just exciting to see that formula's still working here in Knoxville,” he said.